The Next Reel Film Podcast

"No one gets an unwrapped present on my watch!”

The original idea for Arthur Christmas, at the time called Operation Rudolph, had a much darker thread in it involving reindeer burgers. Luckily, the story evolved and turned into a wild story about a hereditary line of Santas running things with a million elves helping out (really doing all the work). The story is one of commerce and efficiency, but also about the meaning of Christmas and believing. Sarah Smith had experience with complex stories, so this film’s clever script fits right in with her live action work she’d done before with Armando Iannucci. Directing her first animated film, with help from Barry Cook, she crafted a holiday classic. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we wrap up our 10 Year Anniversary series with Smith’s 2011 film Arthur Christmas.

Arthur Christmas makes us happy.

This is an easy film to love. Wonderful characters, fun character design from the minds of the Aardman team, and a heartwarming story about Santa’s youngest son, Arthur, who works in the mail department. He may be a bit clumsy, but he has the true spirit of the holiday. James McAvoy brings him to life in a performance full of goofy charm. He’s helped by Jim Broadbent, Hugh Laurie, and Bill Nighy as they set out to deliver a present that got missed.

The story is touching, and it’s smarter than a lot of animated films. Small jokes, big jokes, Aardman jokes – everything’s in there. And we laugh a lot throughout this one. But there’s also a thread of commerce and big business taking over operations of this sort of place, brought to live in Hugh Laurie’s character Steve, who has transformed delivery with the sleigh into the highest of high tech jobs, with the actual sleigh replaced by what looks like the Starship Enterprise painted red. It’s a genius idea, and it speaks to the idea of commerce vs. the true meaning of Christmas.

It’s hard to go wrong with Arthur Christmas. We have such a great time with this one. It’s an annual viewing at Andy’s house and will be for years to come. If you haven’t seen it yet, check it out then tune in. And let us know what you think! The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!

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Film Sundries

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Ann Hui has had a long career and was close to retiring in 2011 when she made A Simple Life. Luckily, she enjoyed making that film so much and enjoyed its success that she decided to keep directing. The film is a quiet one about a maid who has served the same family for over 60 years, now looking after Roger, the son who has become a film producer. After a stroke, however, she decides to retire. And Roger has to now figure out how to take care of her. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our 10 Year Anniversary series with a crossover episode that is also the first entry in our Ann Hui series with her 2011 film A Simple Life.

A Simple Life is a simple film, but emotionally rich.

With Andy Lau as Roger and his real-life godmother Deannie Ip playing Ah Tao, his family’s maid for generations, there is a built-in connection between these two actors. They feel real and feel like family. That being said, Lau does a great job at the start playing the workaholic who hardly even acknowledges her presence, except when he wants to request particular meals. He never has had to think of her as anything but the person who gets everything done for him.

So when Ah Tao has a stroke and decides to retire to a nursing home, the story provides a strong opportunity for Roger to figure out how to fit caring for her into his own life. Lau plays it incredibly well, but part of the reason it works so well is because he’s playing opposite Ip who shines in her role.

It’s a quiet film though. There isn’t a lot of time for large, gregarious scenes. These two never make the film maudlin. It always feels even keel, even when we’re left to wonder if we’re supposed to be seeing the nursing home as an antagonistic force in her life. It never quite plays the way we think it would and that provides a bit of confusion for us, but largely it’s fine.

We have a great time with this film. It’s touching in its quiet methodologies and carried by incredible performances. It’s great to see it still works so well 10 years later, and it’s a great film to kick off our Ann Hui series with. Check this film out then tune in! The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!

Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on The Next Reel’s Discord channel!

Film Sundries

Learn more about supporting The Next Reel Film Podcast through your own membership.

• Watch this on Apple or Amazon, or find other places at JustWatch
• Theatrical trailer
• Poster artwork
• Flickchart
• Letterboxd

Learn how to support our show and The Next Reel’s family of film podcasts by becoming a member. It's just $5 monthly or $55 annually. Learn more here.

Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world in our Discord community!

Here’s where you can find us around the internet:

• The Web
• Letterboxd
• Facebook
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• X
• YouTube
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• Pete 
• Andy

What are some other ways you can support us and show your love? Glad you asked!

• You can buy our movie-related apparel, stickers, mugs and more from our MERCH PAGE.
• Or buy or rent movies we’ve discussed on the show from our WATCH PAGE.
• Or buy books, plays, etc. that was the source for movies we’ve discussed on the show from our ORIGINALS PAGE.
• Or renew or sign up for a Letterboxd Pro or Patron account with our LETTERBOXD MEMBERSHIP DISCOUNT.
• Or sign up for AUDIBLE.

"Your fiancée can’t crash your bachelor party!”

Bollywood has overtaken Hollywood as the largest center for film production in the world, but we have yet to talk about a Bollywood film on this podcast. Well, we’re changing things with today’s episode. Zoya Akhtar, co-writer and director of this film, is from a prominent film production family. This was her second film and it became an immediate success, following three friends as they take a periodic adventure vacation merged with a bachelor party for one of them who is recently engaged. The film becomes a story of personal journeys for each of them, though, and that’s a formula that often works very well for us. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we hit the road with Akhtar to celebrate the 10 Year Anniversary of her 2011 film Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara is a delight of a film.

There’s not as much music as we thought there would be in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, but there is music, there is dancing, and there’s a lot of fantastic character development in this film. Plus, everyone in this film is downright beautiful. If you’re thirsty, you’re bound to find someone to enjoy. The three leads playing the friends on their road trip – Hrithik Roshan, Frahan Akhtar, and Abhay Deol – are great characters and we always buy them as friends.

To that end, they each have their own journeys to take as they enjoy this road trip. Are the female characters in this film given as much development as the men? Or are they just there to help their development? Honestly, they’re so much fun that it’s okay that they may be a bit trope-y.

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara is a fun film that hits all the spots for us. We have a great time talking about it and it’s certainly an easy film to recommend. Check it out and definitely enjoy the soundtrack. It’s a blast! Then tune in to the podcast and enjoy! The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!

Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on The Next Reel’s Discord channel!

Film Sundries

Learn more about supporting The Next Reel Film Podcast through your own membership.

• Watch this on Apple or Amazon, or find other places at JustWatch
• Script Transcript
• Theatrical trailer
• Poster artwork
• Flickchart
• Letterboxd

Learn how to support our show and The Next Reel’s family of film podcasts by becoming a member. It's just $5 monthly or $55 annually. Learn more here.

Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world in our Discord community!

Here’s where you can find us around the internet:

• The Web
• Letterboxd
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Threads
• X
• YouTube
• Flickchart
• Pinterest
• Pete 
• Andy

What are some other ways you can support us and show your love? Glad you asked!

• You can buy our movie-related apparel, stickers, mugs and more from our MERCH PAGE.
• Or buy or rent movies we’ve discussed on the show from our WATCH PAGE.
• Or buy books, plays, etc. that was the source for movies we’ve discussed on the show from our ORIGINALS PAGE.
• Or renew or sign up for a Letterboxd Pro or Patron account with our LETTERBOXD MEMBERSHIP DISCOUNT.
• Or sign up for AUDIBLE.

Nadine Labaki started as an actress but starting in 2007 with Caramel, she started working as a writer/director. Her films look at life in Lebanon but through unique prisms that aren’t confined by the grim realities. In her 2011 film Where Do We Go Now?, Labaki uses a magical realist tone with musical elements to craft a story about the women in an isolated village working together to stop the men – divided by Christian and Muslim faiths – from constantly fighting. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our 10 Year Anniversary series with Labaki’s Where Do We Go Now?.

We clearly enjoy Where Do We Go Now? and have a lot to say about Labaki’s film.

This is a film that may work for some people and not others, but it worked for us. The story shines with magical realism, creating this isolated town where the news is sparse, allowing for the women to craft their own narrative essentially. That allows for a unique story, one that surprises as much as it delights.

The women of the town, led by Labaki playing Amal, keep trying ploy after ploy to stop the men, divided by religion, from fighting. Not all their plans work, but they’re always thinking and ready to try new things, even if that means hiring Ukranian exotic dancers for a week. That’s an area we struggled with a bit, but it still generally works. And with Labaki at the helm, this unique story feels cohesive.

The cinematography and music come together wonderfully in the musical elements. Could it have used more songs? Maybe. But we like it as-is and think it would have to be double its length to really include more songs. It works the way it is with just the few musical moments. They’re enough to remind us of the magic of this world

It’s a fun movie about a serious subject and allows for a unique vision of this community without saying that Labaki’s solved religious conflicts the world over by allowing women to be the ones driving the decisions. It’s a beautiful story of community and one that really surprised us with its warmth. Check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!

Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on The Next Reel’s Discord channel!

Film Sundries

Learn more about supporting The Next Reel Film Podcast through your own membership.

• Watch this on Apple or Amazon, or find other places at JustWatch
• Theatrical trailer
• Poster artwork
• Flickchart
• Letterboxd

Learn how to support our show and The Next Reel’s family of film podcasts by becoming a member. It's just $5 monthly or $55 annually. Learn more here.

Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world in our Discord community!

Here’s where you can find us around the internet:

• The Web
• Letterboxd
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Threads
• X
• YouTube
• Flickchart
• Pinterest
• Pete 
• Andy

What are some other ways you can support us and show your love? Glad you asked!

• You can buy our movie-related apparel, stickers, mugs and more from our MERCH PAGE.
• Or buy or rent movies we’ve discussed on the show from our WATCH PAGE.
• Or buy books, plays, etc. that was the source for movies we’ve discussed on the show from our ORIGINALS PAGE.
• Or renew or sign up for a Letterboxd Pro or Patron account with our LETTERBOXD MEMBERSHIP DISCOUNT.
• Or sign up for AUDIBLE.

"You don’t look happy.”

“Have I ever?”

Tackling a film that looks at a school shooting is a challenging prospect, but writer/director Lynne Ramsay and her co-writer Rory Stewart Kinnear decided to accept the challenge when they signed on to adapt Lionel Shriver’s book “We Need to Talk About Kevin.” The film is a tough film to watch, but the focus on the mother dealing with what her son has done allows us to explore thoughts about the role of a parent in this sort of situation, nature versus nurture, community reactions, and more. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our 10 Year Anniversaries series with Ramsay’s 2011 film We Need to Talk About Kevin.

There’s a lot to talk about in We Need to Talk About Kevin.

Tilda Swinton. Ezra Miller. John C. Reilly. Three incredible performances at the heart of this movie in a film full of great performances, but it’s Swinton who carries the film as we follow her on her journey to deal with what her son’s done. She’s a powerhouse in this film and takes us on quite a trip. The way Ramsay puts the film together is a key part of that too, though, because she’s dancing all through her life from the time she met her husband through to now, and we see those bits pop up like memories flitting through her mind as she debates with herself if she’s at fault.

And that’s really the crux of the film. Is she at fault? She’s certainly taken the blame upon herself as we’ve seen over the course of the film that she’s never gotten along with her son. But is she right? Was he intrinsically evil already? And does that matter to her or will she always carry all these emotions and walls?

It’s a strong film and one we love, despite being a very dark and challenging story. We have a great conversation about it so check it out and tune in! The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!

Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on The Next Reel’s Discord channel!

Film Sundries

Learn more about supporting The Next Reel Film Podcast through your own membership.

• Watch this on Apple or Amazon, or find other places at JustWatch
• Script Transcript
• Theatrical trailer
• Poster artwork
• Original Material
• Flickchart
• Letterboxd

Learn how to support our show and The Next Reel’s family of film podcasts by becoming a member. It's just $5 monthly or $55 annually. Learn more here.

Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world in our Discord community!

Here’s where you can find us around the internet:

• The Web
• Letterboxd
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Threads
• X
• YouTube
• Flickchart
• Pinterest
• Pete 
• Andy

What are some other ways you can support us and show your love? Glad you asked!

• You can buy our movie-related apparel, stickers, mugs and more from our MERCH PAGE.
• Or buy or rent movies we’ve discussed on the show from our WATCH PAGE.
• Or buy books, plays, etc. that was the source for movies we’ve discussed on the show from our ORIGINALS PAGE.
• Or renew or sign up for a Letterboxd Pro or Patron account with our LETTERBOXD MEMBERSHIP DISCOUNT.
• Or sign up for AUDIBLE.